May 21, 2025
France has just released its comprehensive 180-page new National Action Report to Combat Antisemitism, and American Jewish Committee’s impact is apparent throughout this critical policy document.
AJC’s recommendations—developed through years of advocacy and engagement—are woven into the heart of the strategy, and our survey on antisemitism in France is cited as a foundational source throughout. (Earlier this month, French lawmakers cited this same survey as the catalyst for a major new policy aimed at combating antisemitism at French universities.)
Here are just a few ways AJC shaped France’s New National Action Report to Combat Antisemitism:
- Recognizing Antisemitism Linked to Israel: The plan echoes AJC’s call to address the way antisemitism today often hides behind discourse on Israel and the Middle East.
- Adopting the IHRA Working Definition: The report explicitly endorses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism—AJC helped develop the working definition, and has advocated for its adoption and use across society.
- Mandating Training for Educators and Officials: The government will now require training on antisemitism—including anti-Israel-related manifestations—for teachers and civil servants.
- Expanding Jewish History Education: Our push for a more inclusive understanding of Jewish and Israeli history—including Zionism and the Jewish experience in Europe— will now be a part of French school curricula, moving beyond an exclusive focus on the Holocaust.
- Establishing a National Institute on Racism and Antisemitism: This long-sought AJC proposal will sustain academic and policy support to fight hatred.
This is a sign that governments are not just listening, but taking action. And it’s proof that AJC’s efforts to create trusted partnerships with leaders across society are making a difference for Jews in France, in Europe, and around the world.
